Alex Rigby BEM announces 24-hour charity relay challenge along Merseyrail Northern Line

Fresh off receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his incredible fundraising efforts, Bootle resident Alex Rigby is tackling his next epic feat this weekend, ‘Running the Railways 3’.

Starting at 5:00 PM today (Friday 26th June 2026), Alex will lead a team of relay runners along the Merseyrail Northern Line between Freshfield and Hightown train stations for a grueling 24-hour challenge.

Dubbed “Running the Railways 3,” the challenge requires the team to complete a 5k run every single hour, on the hour, for 24 hours. Covering a total of 120km—nearly three back-to-back marathons—the group aims to raise £24,000 to support Centre 56, a Liverpool charity providing vital nursery care and specialist assistance to families escaping domestic abuse.

Credit: Alex Rigby/ Stand Up For Southport

This marks the third major railway fundraiser for Alex, who is also the Fundraising Officer for Centre 56 and an Ainsdale Cricket Club player. In 2024, his run across all 37 Northern Line stations earned him the Sefton Charity Champion Award and raised £27,000. In 2025, he expanded the challenge to a 107-mile trek across all 69 Merseyrail stations, bringing in over £50,000.

This year’s relay has already raised £20,000, putting Alex’s cumulative three-year total past an incredible £105,000.

Sponsored by headline sponsor Clan Contracting Ltd and organised in partnership with Merseyrail, this year’s event focuses heavily on community inclusion.

Alex said:

“Re-imagining the ‘Running the Railways’ idea means more people can get involved, whether they want to walk or run a single 5k, volunteer, or simply cheer the team on,”

Alex encouraged locals to come out, enjoy the good weather, and stop by local hubs like Crosby Coffee, the Hightown Hotel, Kiosk Coffee, the Good Catch, and the Beer Station.

He added:

“Every person who supports the fundraiser will help us provide safety, stability, and hope for children who have lived through trauma.”

The initiative comes at a critical time. A recent study by Women’s Aid and Liverpool John Moores University, commissioned by Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, revealed that over 117,000 people—mostly women and children—experience domestic abuse in Merseyside annually, outstripping local service capacities.

Nationally, the crisis has escalated to what has been declared an epidemic, with Refuge statistics indicating 1 in 4 women experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.

Clan Contracting’s Finance Director, Jen Gavin, expressed immense pride in returning to support the cause, noting that the initiative has a unique way of bringing the community together and inspiring people to do more.

Merseyrail Managing Director Neil Grabham echoed the sentiment, adding that Merseyrail colleagues will be out in force donning yellow T-shirts to run and volunteer.

Neil said:

“Centre 56 does vital work in our communities, and we’re proud to be part of an event that brings people together to shine a light on that work and help it continue.”

The event finished at 5:00 PM tomorrow, Saturday 27th June.